Choosing the right cosmetic breast procedure can be confusing, especially when deciding between breast augmentation, a breast lift or a combination of both. While each procedure offers unique benefits, understanding the indications for each can help you make an informed decision that best suits your aesthetic goals.
Of course, this is exactly why you want and need to consult with a reputable plastic surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
When to Choose Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is designed to enhance the size and shape of the breasts using implants. This procedure is ideal for women who:
- Have naturally small breasts
- Desire larger breasts than their current size
- Experienced volume loss due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, aging or significant weight loss
- Have asymmetrical breasts
- Wish to correct congenital breast conditions
Breast augmentation today offers a multitude of options allowing for a high degree of customization. Options include:
- Implant Type: Silicone or saline implants. Silicone implants are the gold standard for breast implants. They have numerous advantages over saline implants such as their natural feel, durability and structural support.
- Implant Size: Measured in cubic centimeters (cc’s). The appropriate size will be determined based on your body type and desired aesthetic outcome.
- Implant Shape: Round or anatomic. Round implants comprise the overwhelming majority of implants used today and for a few important reasons.
- Implant Profile: This relates to and implant’s width and height for a given volume. This can be categorized as low, moderate, high and even ultra-high profile. The low profile has the greatest width and least projection for a given volume whereas the ultra-high profile has maximal projection with the smallest width. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your natural breast tissue, anatomy, aesthetic goals and surgeon preferences.
- Implant Placement: Above (subglandular) or below (submuscular) the chest muscle. Submuscular placement generally offers a more natural slope and reduced risk of complications.
- Incision Location: Inframammary (under the breast fold), periareolar (around the nipple) or transaxillary (through the armpit). Your surgeon will recommend the best approach based on your anatomy and preferences.
Breast augmentation is suitable for women aged 18 and above. It is not uncommon for women in their 50s and 60s to undergo this procedure for the first time. By enhancing the breasts’ size and shape, women often experience improved confidence, attractiveness and body satisfaction. However, breast augmentation alone cannot effectively correct significant sagging or drooping of the breasts.
When to Choose a Breast Lift
A breast lift, also called a mastopexy, is a procedure designed to re-elevate and reshape sagging breasts, providing a more youthful appearance. This procedure is particularly suitable for women who experience:
- Breast sagging due to aging and gravity
- Deflated, drooping breasts after pregnancy, breastfeeding or significant weight loss
- Ptosis (sagging) due to naturally heavy breasts
- Changes in breast position after implant removal or replacement
During a breast lift, excess skin is removed, and breast tissue is reshaped to restore firmness and achieve a perkier contour. The nipple-areolar complexes are also resized and repositioned to create a more attractive, natural look.
Breast lifts can improve breast shape and symmetry, giving a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance. However, they do not increase breast volume. In fact, some volume may be lost due to tissue removal and tightening.
When to Combine Breast Augmentation and Breast Lift
For women who desire both an increased breast size along with rejuvenating and lifting their saggy breasts, combining a breast augmentation with a breast lift can provide the best and desired results. This combination procedure is ideal for those who:
- Have breasts that are both sagging and lacking volume
- Desire a fuller, more youthful appearance
- Prefer to achieve their aesthetic goals in a single surgical session rather than multiple procedures
Combining both procedures allows women to address the sagging while also enhancing size and shape, ultimately achieving a comprehensive transformation. This approach also offers the convenience of a single recovery period, which can be more efficient and cost-effective. By undergoing the combination procedure, women can avoid the disappointment of undergoing augmentation alone if their breasts are droopy and require a lift for optimal results.
Creating a More Youthful Appearance
Breasts can undergo significant changes over the years due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuations, aging, genetics and lifestyle factors like smoking. Combining a breast lift with augmentation is particularly beneficial when:
- Volume loss and sagging occur simultaneously.
- Large implants are mistakenly believed to correct sagging. Be cautious of surgeons who suggest using oversized implants to correct sagging without a lift. This can lead to poor outcomes and the need for future corrective surgeries that may never provide the results desired.
- You desire a youthful, fuller, and more attractive appearance. A breast lift addresses drooping while augmentation provides volume and shape enhancement. Neither procedure replaces the other; together, they deliver the best results.
Making the Right Choice
The decision between breast augmentation, a breast lift, or a combination of both depends on your specific concerns and desired outcomes. Consulting with a reputable plastic surgeon board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery can provide you with expert guidance tailored to your unique anatomy and goals. By thoroughly discussing your expectations and evaluating your breast characteristics, your surgeon can recommend the best approach to achieve your desired results.
Ultimately, the right procedure for you is the one that aligns with your aesthetic vision and addresses your specific concerns effectively. Taking the time to understand your options is the first step toward feeling more confident and comfortable in your own body. With the right procedure, you can achieve a beautifully enhanced appearance along with welcomed satisfaction and self-confidence.
Scheduling Your Consultation
If you are interested in improving the appearance of your breasts – whether you want a breast augmentation, a breast lift or maybe both – you can schedule your complimentary consultation with me, Dr. Steven Turkeltaub. You can do this either by calling the Arizona Center for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery at (480) 451-3000 or contacting us by email.
Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona